After winning England’s second-tier league last season, Daniel Farke was given a preview of the top flight last weekend, when his side were demolished 4-1 at Anfield. But The Canaries showed flashes of brilliance, testing one of the best defences in that league and their performance in that game will give them lots of confidence going into this weekend’s clash against Newcastle United.
Steve Bruce’s men fought hard but dropped all three points to a late goal from Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang last weekend. They showed great organization all around the field and will believe they can take something from this game. The hosts are unbeaten in their last six home games against The Magpies and will start this game in search of all three points.
Team News
Timm Klose and Christoph Zimmermann continue to remain absent though are expected to be back in a couple of weeks while Onel Hernandez is out for three months.
Alex Tettey and Ibrahim Amadou are back in contention but Kenny McLean is a huge doubt for the game.
PREDICTED NORWICH CITY LINEUP vs NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Defence
There was very little Tim Krul could do to stop any of Liverpool’s goals. He will hope to have a less busy game against a club for which he played for, for more than a decade.
Grant Hanley, who conceded an own goal early in the game at Anfield, will keep his place in the side and the armband. Ben Godfrey was the best defender for Norwich City in that game. He will be up against Joelinton and Miguel Almiron, both of who could prove to be tricky to keep at bay.
Max Aarons had very little effect on the attacking front but against Newcastle United, he will have to add some creativity down the flank.
Jamal Lewis was exposed time and against by Mo Salah and will hope to have a better game at left-back this weekend.
Midfield
The midfield duo of Kenny McLean and Tom Trybull did well to disrupt Liverpool’s build-up play last game. But with McLean a major doubt, Mario Vrancic and Moritz Leitner will fight it out for a place in the double pivot. Farke might well go with Leitner with Vrancic likely to be afforded some more time to get up to speed.
Attack
Marco Stiepermann found himself in dangerous areas but missed a couple of half-chances last weekend. He needs to be more clinical in front of goal against The Magpies. He will keep his place in the no.10 role while Emiliano Buendia, who was Norwich’s best outlet in attack, should keep his place on the right flank.
Todd Cantwell provided balance to the Norwich City side on the left flank and will hope to test Javier Manquillo and Fabian Schar this weekend. Teemu Pukki, who is already off the mark in the Premier League, will be the danger man for the visitors.
He will be up against a solid presence in Jamaal Lascelles, who will not be too easy to beat.
Here is how they might line up:
